Classical 'High Season' Approaches Its Artistic Apogee
Festivals at Tanglewood, Sevenars, and Mass MoCA showcase exceptional musical artistry and creativity.
During late July, the classical music festival "high season," anchored by concerts at Tanglewood and Sevenars, and also including Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, approaches its zenith, with both sure-fire and innovative programming. Offerings this week include Boston Symphony performances of Mozart and Tchaikovsky concertos, as well as a uniquely designed program in Ozawa Hall of five prominent American pianists performing the complete etudes for solo piano by the magisterial master composer Philip Glass. A special feature of this week's Tanglewood programming is the pairing, in three concerts, of Mozart concerti (two for violin, one for piano) with three of Tchaikovsky's symphonies. As it happened, the Russian's favorite classical composer was Mozart.
For a charming and musically highly rewarding country getaway, this week also featuring great piano music, be sure to consider attending the program on Sunday in the historic Academy presented by the Sevenars Music Festival in bucolic South Worthington.
As always, the place to be for great classical and stimulating new music is right here in our own intimate corner of the world — the Berkshires — a so-designated "cultural capital," where artistic boundaries are nonexistent.
Tanglewood
• Wednesday, July 22, 8 p.m. in Ozawa Hall: Pianists Timo Andres, Bruce Brubaker, Daniela Liebman, Lisa Moore and Christian Sands will perform the 20 piano Etudes of Philip Glass composed between 1991-2012 for pianist/conductor Dennis Russell Davies.
• Friday, July 24, 8 p.m. in the Shed: Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony, with violin soloist Augustin Hadelich performing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5, in A Major. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 3 ("Polish") will conclude the program.
• Saturday, July 25, 8 p.m. in the Shed: Maestro Andris Nelsons will direct the BSO in Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat, K.595, with the supreme Paul Lewis the soloist. The program rousingly concludes with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.
• Sunday, July 26, 2:30 p.m. in the Shed: Maestro Nelsons leads the BSO in three works: "Gambit," a curtain-raiser composed by composer/conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 1, with soloist Himari, and, to conclude the program, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.
For tickets for all Tanglewood/BSO concerts (lawn and Shed seating) and for special events call (617) 266-1200 or (413) 637-5180; online: tanglewood.org or customerservice@bso.org. In Lenox, visit the Tanglewood box office at the Main Gate located at 297 West St.
Sevenars Music Festival
Founded in 1968, Sevenars Concerts Inc. is showcasing its 58th anniversary season of six summer concerts, held at the Academy in the historic village of South Worthington, located at 15 Ireland St., just off Route 112.
• Sunday, July 26, 4 p.m. Sevenars presents the Champlain Trio in a program entitled "In Her Voice" - featuring three extraordinary piano trios (piano, violin and cello) by female composers Dora Pejacevic, Amy Beach, and Charlotte Sohy. The Champlain personnel includes pianist Hiromi Fukuda, violinist Letitia Quante, and cellist Emily Taubl.
Among their many distinctions, the Champlain Trio was awarded a Vermont Arts Council Grant to record the Croatian composer Dora Pejacevic's Piano Trio, Op. 29. Their Sevenars concert will include this stunning work, along with piano trios by Amy Beach and Charlotte Sohy.
In addition to performing, the Trio remains dedicated to education, regularly working with students through chamber music residencies, master classes, and outreach programs across the region.
Concerts are presented on six consecutive Sundays at 4 p.m., in July and August. Phone: (413) 238-5854 (please leave a message for a return call). Online: www.sevenars.org. Admission is by donation at the door (suggested $20.) Refreshments will be available at no charge.
Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival
For something completely different, read on. It's not "classical," but it's new, vibrant and "NOW!" — the forward-looking and free-thinking music of today's musical innovators and experimentalists. Check it out …
The Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival is a three-week artist residency running July 12 to Aug. 1. This joyful, collaborative program includes daily rehearsals and seminars, performances in the museum galleries, world music and improvisation workshops, technology and music entrepreneurship seminars, and concerts and events in the community.
The festival has been described as "utterly transformative" and "life-changing"; it's a place where musicians generate powerful connections with new life-long collaborators, friends, and colleagues. Over these three weeks, every corner of Mass MoCA's galleries and outdoor spaces come alive with performances, workshops, and seminars focused on adventurous new music — culminating in Loud Weekend July 30 – Aug. 1. Learn more.
Residency performances in the galleries are included with museum admission. Separate tickets will be required for Loud Weekend.
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